Gatto Receives Legislator of the Year Award

BY CRAIG SHERWOOD ON DECEMBER 11, 2012 

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) was presented with the Legislator of the Year Award Tuesday night from the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (CRNG), a not-for-profit group that represents renewable natural-gas producers throughout the country.  Renewable natural gas is an alternative, renewable energy, derived from the natural decomposition of waste from landfills and organic sources and is used to generate green electricity and clean transportation fuel.

“Mike Gatto is exactly the kind of legislator California needs right now,” said Harrison Clay, President of Clean Energy Renewable Fuels and founding board member of CRNG.  “He is a practical-problem solver who thinks about the long term. He is diligent, thorough and determined to do the right thing for California and its residents.”

The award was given to recognize Gatto’s work on renewable natural gas this year, including two bills he authored: AB 1900 and AB 2196. The bills helped to break down barriers to using this renewable fuel in California and helped clarify the fuel’s treatment under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standards, which require all utilities in California to buy renewable energy.   The legislation was widely hailed for helping to create an entirely new clean-energy industry in California, and bringing jobs and infrastructure improvements in the process.  The new biogas industry will also help reduce California’s reliance on foreign energy sources.

Todd Campbell, former Mayor of Burbank, lauded Gatto’s achievements: “Assemblyman Gatto’s acumen to find solutions that drive job growth, promote environmental protections, cut waste, and to protect the average ratepayer was once again demonstrated.  The passage of AB 1900 was vital to removing barriers to in-state biomethane production, a clean and cost-effective renewable resource for state power generation and transportation.  Assemblyman Gatto’s efforts will save California businesses and consumers tens of millions of dollars and help us meet climate-change goals 30 years ahead of schedule.”

The award was presented at CRNG’s annual Fuel, Power and Policy Conference in San Diego.

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  You can read this article and more at Burbank and Beyond by clicking HERE

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto 

Cash, Credit, and College: Assemblyman Mike Gatto Hosts Financial “Jeopardy” For Burbank Students

By Craig Sherwood - October 26, 2012

Assemblyman Mike Gatto met with local high school students Thursday as part of an entertaining, interactive, and educational program on financial literacy.  Working in cooperation with Burbank and Burroughs High schools, and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Cash, Credit, and College program was an opportunity for students to prepare for a successful financial future by learning financial fitness in a fun-filled 90 minute program.  Events included multimedia presentations on the importance of budgets, credit, savings, credit cards, and loan essentials by Matt Denny of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Assemblyman Gatto was an active and often humorous participant, doing his best Alex Trebek impersonation during the game of “Financial Jeopardy.”  He was even joined by District Director Jason Insalaco playing Gatto’s over-the-top sidekick, in the style of Rod Roddy.  Both performers kept the high-school students engaged and interested.

“This event is a fun opportunity for young people to learn the basics of maintaining strong finances,” said Gatto.  “Whether they are saving for college, a home, or a hot-rod, I hope that all of the participants learned the importance of living on a budget and saving for the future.”

Tony Tartaglla Public Affairs with So. California Gas Co. Assemblyman Mike Gatto, and Burbank High Principal Hani Youssef. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

One surprise for the schools came when Mike Mizrahi, the Regional Public Affairs Manager of SoCalGas presented each high-school principal with a check for $1,250 to be put towards continuing education on financial literacy.  Assemblyman Gatto helped secure the gift and explained that it was essential for students to spend more than one afternoon thinking about financial security.

“The long-term-financial success of our young people is essential to creating a stable economy; this money is just one small step towards helping ensure our community’s economic health.”

Burroughs High School Principal John Paramo praised the event for providing students with the opportunity to test their knowledge and interact one-on-one with a respected public official.

(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“The students sometimes feel like their elected officials are out of reach, Assemblyman Gatto’s participation in this event showed that he is both accessible and fun,” said Paramo. “Burroughs [High School] already has a financial literacy program in its curriculum, but they were more motivated to study up when they knew they’d be playing jeopardy with a State Assemblyman.”

Current financial literacy statistics have shown a decrease in the baseline financial knowledge levels.  According to the FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s 2010 State-by-State Financial Capability Survey, 23% of young Americans [18- to 34-year-olds] nationally spend more than their household income, 68% do not have money set aside in a rainy day fund, and 34% engage in non-bank borrowing.  A 2010 Charles Schwab Survey found that of those young people who use credit cards, only one-third (33%) pay off their entire balance every month.

You can read this article and more at Burbank N Beyond by clicking HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silver Lake.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.

Website of Assemblyman Mike Gatto: www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

Gatto’s Reform To Fix California’s Constitutional Amendment Process Clears Key Hurdle

CRAIG SHERWOOD, JULY 6, 2012   Tuesday, Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 10, an important reform measure to protect the sanctity of California’s constitution, passed the Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting by a vote of 4-1.

The measure, part of Gatto’s package of constitutional reforms, seeks greater parity between the U.S. Constitution and California’s when it comes to the amendment process. The U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times in 223 years, whereas California’s Constitution has been amended 521 times in roughly half the time, requiring only a simple majority of the electorate to amend.

“I would submit that one of the reasons our country has not been torn apart by strife is that, to amend our governing document, you need consensus.  California’s Constitution has been treated by special interests as just another statute, subject to the temporary whims of the majority of voters who show up and vote in any given year,” said Gatto.

ACA 10 seeks closer parity with the Federal Constitution in two ways. First, it would require a 55% majority to approve a new initiative constitutional amendment. Second, it would add a geographic-distribution requirement for signature gathering among the state’s far-flung and diverse Senate districts.

“These changes would ensure that amendments to our state’s constitution reflect the desires of the entire state.  It will also force those with the idea du jour to actually go discuss it with their fellow citizens across the state.”

Only 24 states even have an initiative process. Half of those states have similar geographic-distribution requirements, several require that votes cast far surpass the simple majority threshold, and six have gone as far as to forbid initiatives from amending their constitutions.

“A constitution should be a sacred, hallowed document that contains fundamental governing principles and rights.  I expect to have the support of my colleagues, who believe in the sanctity of the Federal Constitution and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, to support taking these steps to ensure California’s Constitution is similarly protected,” said Gatto.  “No right is permanent, and no reform has any teeth, if it can be repealed at the very next election.”

ACA 10 now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.

Article from Burbank N Beyond, read this article at Burbank N Beyond HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and parts of Los Angeles, including Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, and Van Nuys.  He has served in the Assembly since June 2010.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.

Website of Assemblyman Mike Gatto: www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

Gatto’s bill to Legalize Sales of Homemade Food Clears Next Legislative Hurdle

Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) Assembly Bill (AB) 1616, the California Homemade Food Act, earned its latest legislative victory Wednesday with a unanimous vote of 8-0 in the Senate Health Committee. The Act would allow for the sale of homemade, “non-potentially hazardous” foods by creating a two-tier system of “cottage food operations” based upon the point of sale.

The Assemblyman made a commitment to help micro-entrepreneurs improve access to locally produced foods after his constituent, Mark Stambler, was shut down by the Los Angeles Department of Environmental Health for selling homemade breads baked in the brick oven in his home. “The victory in Health Committee is another substantial step for artisan food makers like Mark,” said Gatto, “I am happy to see such broad support clearing the path for people to produce healthy, homemade foods. But, our work is far from complete. The opposition from large corporations who want to kill potential competition is growing.”

Under AB 1616, foods available for sale would include every-day items such as breads, tortillas, dry roasted nuts and legumes, granola, churros, jams, jellies and other fruit preserves, rice cakes and cookies. If the producer chose to sell directly to the consumer, he or she would register with the local health department and complete a food handler’s course. If a producer chose to sell to a local store or grocer, such as the neighborhood coffee shop, he or she would have inspections and a permit from the local health department. “During these tough times, micro-businesses and our local governments need not waste time and money on a long, drawn out permitting process that is intended for corporate retailers and producers,” commented Gatto. “Creating a legal structure for the safe, in-home production of certain foods that respects the importance of public health is a sensible approach.”

The legislation is consistent with similar laws of at least 32 other states, none of which have reported a food-borne illness from non-potentially hazardous foods. The Act has been amended several times to reflect numerous conversations with local health directors, small and large-scale retail interests, and cultural and ethnic groups. The bill has thus far received the support of a variety of organizations statewide, including the Los Angeles Bread Bakers, the Sustainable Economies Law Center, Proyecto Jardin, Whole Foods Market Northern California, the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, and the California Food and Justice Coalition.

There has been debate about whether to allow sales of such products through retail shops, but Gatto insists this is a matter of access to opportunity during difficult economic times for families struggling to make ends meet. In 2008, 86-year-old disabled World War II veteran Jack Melton was stopped by Shasta County Environmental Health Officials from selling the fruitcakes he had been making in his home kitchen for ten years. Gatto said, “In a state where farmers markets have limited space, are concentrated in more populated counties, and are seasonal in many areas, limiting this opportunity doesn’t make sense. The disabled veteran fruit cake-maker, the elderly woman making jelly, the single mom selling churros, and the bread-baker who works Saturdays at his regular job are limited in their ability to transport their products to farmer’s markets. They shouldn’t be kept from taking advantage of this opportunity to provide for themselves and for their families.”

AB 1616 has been amended to include a series of specific restrictions on retail sales to make sure this remains a small-scale, community activity, which is a critical economic development tool in a State with 12% unemployment.

AB 1616 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee before going to the Senate Floor for a full vote of the chamber. The Governor must sign the bill before September 30th to lift the ban on homemade foods sales in California.

Read more in BurbanknBeyond HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and parts of Los Angeles, including Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, and Van Nuys.  He has served in the Assembly since June 2010.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.

Website of Assemblyman Mike Gatto: www.asm.ca.gov/gatto